The Manchester City striker hit the milestone during his team’s 5-2 victory over Juventus in the FIFA Club World Cup, bundling in City’s third goal of the match in Orlando.

While the finish itself was scrappy—a ricochet off his right leg into an open net—it was a moment of historic significance that further cements Haaland’s reputation as one of football’s most prolific scorers.

A Record-Breaking Pace

What makes Haaland’s achievement truly extraordinary is the speed at which he reached 300 goals. It took him only 370 professional appearances to hit the mark, a rate that outpaces some of the game’s greatest modern forwards by a wide margin.

For comparison, Lionel Messi needed 418 matches, Cristiano Ronaldo 554, and Kylian Mbappé 409 to reach the same milestone. Haaland’s scoring exploits began with RB Salzburg and have only accelerated since, with standout spells at Borussia Dortmund and now Manchester City.

Since joining City, Haaland has netted 123 times in just 145 games, adding to his tallies of 86 goals for Dortmund, 29 for Salzburg, 20 for Molde, and 42 for the Norwegian national team. His consistency has been particularly notable in the Premier League and Champions League, where he averages more than a goal per game in Europe’s top club competition.

Guardiola’s Praise and City’s Ambitions

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was quick to laud Haaland’s accomplishment, calling it “quite impressive” and highlighting the striker’s relentless mentality. “All I can say is congratulations; scoring 300 goals at 24 years old is quite impressive, isn’t it?” Guardiola told reporters after the match. The City boss emphasized that Haaland’s work ethic and finishing instincts are central to the club’s domestic and international ambitions.

Haaland’s milestone goal helped City secure a perfect group-stage record at the Club World Cup, setting up a knockout clash with Al-Hilal as the tournament continues.

The Norwegian’s relentless scoring has been a driving force behind City’s recent dominance, and his rapid ascent to 300 goals suggests that even more records are likely to fall in the seasons ahead.

As Haaland continues to rewrite the record books, his latest achievement stands as a testament to his extraordinary talent and the promise of even greater feats to come.